Solution for Cleaning Floors With Salt Residue

If you live in a municipality that salts its roads in the winter, you may get a certain amount of salt buildup on your floors as people track the salt indoors. Salt may also accumulate when you leave water standing in the basement or mudroom. You can use one of two solutions to clean it.

A Vinegar Solution

With a pH of around 2.4, vinegar is a strong enough acid to dissolve salt without damaging your floor. A solution of 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water is enough to do the job in most cases. When cleaning hardwood or laminate floors, do not let the solution stand, or it may seep between the boards and cause warping. Instead, soak a cloth, wring it out and use it to wipe off the salt.

Ammonia and Borax

If you have tile floors, you may have more success with an alternative cleaning solution. Add 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 tablespoon of borax to a gallon of warm water. Mop the floor with the solution with a microfiber mop, rewetting the mop frequently to keep the salt in solution and prevent it from getting pushed into the grout.

About the Author

Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies.